High Country Home Magazine

Local publication High Country Home magazine, presented by Market Connection, brings the best of the High Country to your doorstep. In our magazine, you will find the best contractors, the most satisfying restaurants, and the most stunning homes that this region has to offer. This blog features us, our clients and the people we are lucky enough to work with, all brought together by our love for life in the High Country.

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9x2-inch
metal baking pan with nonstick spray. Line bottom of pan with long
strip of 9-inch-wide parchment paper, leaving overhang on both short
sides of pan.
2. Whisk flour and salt in medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat
butter in large bowl until creamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually beat in
sugar. Continue beating until mixture is light and fluffy, stopping
occasionally to scrape down sides of bowl, about 3 minutes. Beat in
vanilla, then egg yolk. Gradually add flour mixture, beating on low
speed just to blend.
3. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls into prepared baking pan, spacing
evenly. Using moistened fingertips, press dough to form even layer over
bottom of pan. Pierce dough all over with fork.
4. Bake cookie base until light golden brown and slightly puffed and
edges begin to come away from sides of pan, about 30 minutes. Place pan
on rack; immediately sprinkle bittersweet chocolate over. Let stand
until chocolate softens, about 3 minutes. Using small offset spatula,
spread bittersweet chocolate over top of cookie in thin even layer.
Immediately sprinkle chopped candy cane kisses over (or candy canes).
5. Stir white chocolate in medium metal bowl set over saucepan of
simmering water until melted and smooth. If it's too tough and thick to
stir, add a tiny drizzle of vegetable oil or 1/2 teaspoon of shortening
to thin it out. Remove from over water. Using fork, drizzle white
chocolate all over cookies. Chill until white chocolate is set, about 30
minutes.
6. Using paper overhang as aid, lift cookie from pan and transfer to
work surface. Using large knife, cut cookie into irregular pieces.

Monday, October 21, 2013

Firearms have been getting a great
deal of media attention lately, both positive and negative. As a result there
has been an increase in the number of firearms being purchased, and
consequently a shortage on ammunition has occurred. Many firearms enthusiasts
and avid shooters have been asking, “When are we going to be able to buy ammo
again?” and some have even begun to reload their own cartridges, however even
the components needed to reload have become scarce.

In
addition to firearm and ammunition sales increasing, so have the number of
citizens taking basic firearms training. Traditionally in the South, fathers
teaching their sons firearms safety and fundamentals supplanted the need of
firearms training.However in recent
years, due to more of an industrial influx, the need for hunting food for
dinner has ceased and that tradition is disappearing. Also, firearms have
become infinitely more complex. That’s where the Firearms Instructor comes in.
Firearms Instructors are civilians and law enforcement officers who have
undergone specific training and passed a series of written and practical tests
to be certified to teach within certain disciplines. Firearms Instructors are
professionals dedicated to teaching civilians to be informed when it comes to
firearms safety and the fundamentals of shooting.

No
matter which side of the political coin you find yourself everyone should
support Firearms Instructors because they are traditionally unbiased when it
comes to firearm safety and the responsibility that comes with owning a
firearm.

What are the four cardinal rules of
firearms safety?

1. Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.

2. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to
shoot.

3. Keep the firearm unloaded until you are ready to shoot.

4. Know your target and beyond.

Every shooter should know these rules before stepping foot
on a range or handling a firearm.

What
are some of the deterrents for people when it comes to firearms training?

1. Finding the time to take a class.

2. The cost involved
with taking a class.

3. Arranging childcare.

4. Gender stereotypes.

5. False confidence.

The
above-mentioned are among the most common reasons why people avoid firearms
training. Firearms classes take approximately eight hours plus range time. Most
instructors try to schedule classes on the weekend to accommodate work
schedules. Even so, some people find eight hours to be a hefty commitment. And
though the cost may seem steep, most instructors have a very narrow profit
margin.It costs instructors time and
money to become certified, plus the cost of materials per student. Then there
are gender stereotypes. Women are equally competent as men. But some men seem
to think that women don’t belong on the range, and unfortunately too many women
agree. Lastly and most common is false confidence. Many boast“ I’ve been
shooting since I was a kid, I know how to shoot”. But if you ask, “What are
cardinal rules of firearms safety” and 9 times out of 10 they don’t know. They
have experience, but they lack training.

Although
the likelihood of seeing ammo on the shelves anytime soon is slim, don’t lose
hope. Once the supply can match the demand those shelves will fill up and
prices will go down. If you are interested in firearms training please contact
your local firearms instructors and register for a class today. It’s never too
late to become an informed citizen, which is just as much a part of the Second
Amendment as the right to bare arms.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Whenever you are sitting outside in the sunshine, a nice refreshing drink should accompany you. Ranging from fruity to sweet to whatever your taste buds can handle. Here are some alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks with the recipes to help.

ALCOHOLIC:

SILVER MONK

Ingredients:

2 slices of cucumber

1 spear cucumber for garnish

8 leaves of mint

1 pinch of salt

1/2 ounce Basic Simple Syrup

Ice

2 ounces Blanco Tequila

3/4 ounce yellow chartreuse

1 ounce fresh lime juice

Directions:
In a cocktail shaker, muddle the cucumber slices with 7 of the mint leaves, the salt and the simple syrup. Add ice and the tequila, chartreuse, and lime juice and shake well. Fine-strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with the cucumber spear and remaining mint leaf.

AVIATION

Ingredients:

2 ounces of gin

ounce of maraschino liqueur

3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice

ounce of violet liqueur

1 marasca cherry, for garnish

Directions:
Fill cocktail shaker with ice. Add all of the ingredients, except the cherry, and shake until chilled. Strain the drink into a coupe glass and garnish with a marasca cherry.

NON-ALCOHOLIC:

WATERMELON LEMONADE

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pound sliced seedless watermelon, rind removed

zest of 1 lemon

3/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup mild honey (such as orange blossom)

1 lemon, thinly sliced, for garnish

Directions:
In the bowl of a food processor, place watermelon and process until very smooth. Strain through a coarse sieve set over a bowl, stirring to push through any pulp. Pour juice into a large pitcher. Add lemon zest.
In a bowl, whisk lemon juice and honey until honey dissolves; stir into watermelon juice. Stir 1 1/2 cups cold water; cover and refrigerate until very cold. Serve over ice and garnish with lemon slices

Monday, May 6, 2013

When it comes to baking,
there is nothing more satisfying than biting into a piece of sweet and savory
pie especially the kind that melts in your mouth and leaves you speechless. One
of those types of pies is the banana split pie. Filled to the brim with fresh
bananas, grated semi-sweet chocolate, powdered sugar, and an entire stick of
butter, the banana split pie will remind you of the comforts of home and sweet
childhood memories. Nostalgia comes naturally as the process to prepare this
pie comes to fruition. Before adding the prescribed whipped cream topping, you
should think about this tasty alternative: whipped egg whites, a tablespoon of
vanilla, and half a cup of sugar. It takes about 10-15 minutes to get the egg
whites whipped enough that it forms stiff peaks, but the result is more
satisfying. Once stiff peaks have formed, stuff the topping into a small
plastic Ziploc bag and cut a hole in the corner to squeeze out onto the pie
filling.

Once the filling and
topping are finished, be sure to garnish the pie with walnut pieces. It adds a
wonderful crunch and flavor burst to the predominately banana flavor. Happy baking!

Ingredients

1. 1/2 cup butter

2. 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

3. 3 eggs

4. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5. 2 bananas

6. 1 tablespoon lemon juice

7. 1 (1 ounce) square semi-sweet chocolate, grated

8. 1 (9 inch) pie crust, baked

Directions

Cream together butter or
margarine and confectioner's sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time; beat for 3
minutes after each addition. Stir in vanilla.

Monday, February 4, 2013

Everyone knows the weather in North Carolina is unpredictable especially in the mountains. When there is a day that cooperates with you, hiking is definitely an activity to partake in. Everyone from amateurs to wilderness junkies can enjoy the health and mental benefits of hiking. During the day is usually an optimal time to go hiking , but if you are a night owl, night hiking can be interesting as well. There are a few tips to use for this activity during either the day or night.

DAY HIKING trips can provide a welcome dose of wilderness in your weekend. They also help you prepare and train for longer hikes.

About Me

Here at Market Connection, we bring the best of the High Country to your home. In our star publication, High Country Home Magazine, we provide you with the best contractors, businesses, and homes in the High Country. With delicious recipes you can make in your own kitchen to tips on how to improve your home to the best places to sled in the High Country, our magazine has something for everyone. In addition to printing the best homeowner's magazine in Boone, we can provide advertising services, photography, and media exposure. We are always developing brand new projects, check our blog daily to see how we can get your name out in the High Country!